TCBY (www.tcby.com), the leading frozen yogurt concept, recently launched its first self-serve store as part of its strategic 200-store expansion in Texas.

TCBY formed an agreement with Lone Yogurt, a Texas-based restaurant developer that has committed to open and/or franchise 200 TCBY self-serve locations in Texas within 10 years. Just three months after the announcement in late January, Lone Star Yogurt opened its first TCBY location in Tyler, Texas. This Texas expansion alone represents more than double the total locations of most frozen yogurt competitors, adding to TCBY’s more than 470 locations.

“Based on the overwhelming interest in our new self-serve concept from both customers and potential franchisees, we expect this development plan will further position TCBY as the industry leader and create other significant opportunities for growth in markets around the country,” said Tim Casey, CEO of TCBY.

“With our 20-year knowledge of the TCBY brand, we continue to be impressed with the company’s product quality, consistency and endless innovation,” said David Weaver, managing partner of Lone Star Yogurt. “TCBY’s focus on its newly refreshed brand, self-serve concept and healthy product offerings is already proving successful as we are seeing tremendous interest from potential franchisees.”

The Tyler store has kicked off the expansion efforts and 24 additional TCBY locations are planned to open in East Texas, Fort Worth, Dallas and Houston within the next 18 months, adding as many as 250 jobs to the Texas job market. The Tyler location celebrated its grand opening by giving away a free cup of yogurt to every person who contributed to the store’s adopted cause — the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.